Time trends in work-related MSK injury admissions in Victoria: Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Injury

Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address:

Published: November 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • Work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries have become a notable concern for worker health and productivity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as telecommuting may influence injury rates.
  • This study analyzed hospital admission data in Victoria, Australia, over a decade to assess changes in rates of hospitalization for work-related MSK injuries before and during the pandemic.
  • Findings revealed that while overall hospital admissions for cumulative MSK injuries decreased, there was an increase in acute injury cases during the pandemic, indicating a shift in the nature of MSK injuries rather than an overall rise in incidents.

Article Abstract

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries pose significant challenges to workers' health, productivity, and healthcare systems. Increased working from home since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected the incidence and prevalence of work-related MSK injuries. Despite workers' compensation systems providing valuable data, underreporting remains a concern, necessitating additional data sources such as hospital admissions to better understand the burden of MSK injuries.

Objective: To determine time trends in the rates of hospitalization due to work-related MSK injuries in Victoria, Australia, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Retrospective administrative data analysis was conducted using data from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED). Adults (aged 15+ years) hospital admissions between July 2012 and June 2022 were included. Interrupted time series analysis was employed to evaluate changes in monthly incidence rates of hospital admissions for work-related MSK injuries before and during the pandemic.

Results: A total of 67,689 index hospital admissions for work-related MSK injuries were recorded in the study period, with an average of 6,769 annually. Acute injuries were predominant during the pandemic, accounting for 63.6 % of cases compared to 60.1 % before the pandemic. Over ten years, the average annual incidence rate of acute MSK injuries was 13.20 cases per 10,000 workers, while cumulative injuries showed a rate of 8.62 cases per 10,000 workers. Comparing pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, the average annual incidence rate of acute MSK injuries increased, while cumulative injuries decreased.

Conclusion: The study observed a gradual decrease in the overall incidence rate of hospital admissions for cumulative work-related MSK injuries over the last decade. Despite expectations of disruptions, no significant deviations in MSK injury trends were observed following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2024.112035DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

msk injuries
32
work-related msk
24
hospital admissions
20
covid-19 pandemic
12
incidence rate
12
msk
11
injuries
11
time trends
8
msk injury
8
onset covid-19
8

Similar Publications

Implementing a new model of residential rehabilitation: findings and future recommendations.

BMJ Mil Health

December 2024

Defence Medical Services Regional Rehabilitation Unit, Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal injury is one of the leading causes of medical discharge in the UK Armed Forces. Residential rehabilitation (RR) courses are part of Defence rehabilitation, for service personnel (SP) who do not respond to treatment at primary care. Historically, it was delivered as a 3-week block model.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Musculoskeletal (MSK) injury can negatively affect service members by compromising job performance and readiness. These injuries can impact the service member's physical health, functional abilities, and quality of life (QoL). Rehabilitation therapies for MSK injuries can reduce these impacts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Little is known regarding long-term consequences (≥5 years) of sport-related concussion (SRC) sustained during adolescence. Adolescent SRC has been linked to athlete considerations of sport participation and subsequent retirement from sport during this critical developmental period. Prolonged SRC symptoms can reduce ability to perform physical activity, and research suggests inactivity can extend years post-injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * It involved a retrospective analysis of medical data, comparing over 19,000 pregnant service members with non-pregnant peers to ascertain the incidence of MSK conditions after childbirth.
  • * Results indicated that the risk of MSK conditions increased significantly 3- to 6-months after pregnancy, while the risk tended to decrease after 6 months and was lower within the first 2 months post-pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Endpoint Adjudication Committees (EACs) benefit the quality of randomized control trials (RCTs) where outcomes depend on subjective interpretations. However, assembling a committee to adjudicate large datasets is cumbersome. In a recent RCT, the primary outcome was time to union following operative fixation of scaphoid non-union, with real or placebo adjunctive ultrasound treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!